Ælfric

“ The winsome stars glorify His beauty,
and the sun and moon also, which enlighten the earth.
By His word even the dead are quickened,
and by His touch the infirm sick are strengthened.
His abundance never faileth, nor His wealth waneth. ”

“ Then wrote Ambrose concerning the maiden thus.
At that time there was a noble maiden
called Agnes, believing in the Saviour,
in the city of Rome, gentle and wise,
a child in years, but old in mind. ”

“ Afterward when Julian, the infamous apostate,
was chosen emperor, though he had been shorn for the priesthood,
he proclaimed an edict, being full of wickedness,
that the Christians should own nothing in the world.
Then he banished Gallicanus the man of God ”

“ Gallicanus to the orthodox Emperor,
and related in order how he was converted to God;
' The Scythian people had slain many of us,
and I was locked up in a little town
with a very small force, and we durst not fight
against the overwhelming army, which had besieged the town;
Then I offered often my sacrifices to the gods,
until my colleagues surrendered me and themselves
to the attacking enemies, and I then took to flight.
Then said the Christians, John and Paul,
" Promise the God of Heaven that thou wilt bow to Him,
if He now helpeth thee, and thou shalt have victory." ”

“ Likewise many of the Roman maidens continued
in pure virginity for the love of Christ
after Agnes' example, who is there buried.
ANOTHER STORY; WRITTEN BY TERENTIANUS.
In those days there was a certain general called Gallicanus,
victorious in fights, and very dear to the emperor
for his great victory, though he was not baptized.
He wooed Constantia, the emperor's daughter,
at the time that the Scythians were warring much against him.
Then the emperor was troubled on account of the wooing,
knowing that his daughter, who had chosen the Lord,
would rather die than take a husband. ”

“ Then the fire became quenched, so that not one coal glowed there,
and the people attributed it to witchcraft,
roaring with loud clamour, and fierce against [her] life.
Then Aspasius could not withstand the great tumult,
but bade kill her with death-bearing sword,
and Christ then received her, martyred for His Name.
Her father and her mother, with great joy,
took her body, and brought it to their own house,
and buried her there without sorrowing,
and there often watched, venerating the place.
Then on a certain night they saw come
a great company of virgins, and Agnes in the midst ”

“ Then was it so done, as the cruel man commanded,
but the flame instantly divided itself into two parts,
and burned up those who had made the tumult;
and the blessed Agnes stood unharmed in the midst of the fire,
with outstretched hands, thus praying,
' Oh! Thou Almighty God, who alone art to be adored,
Terrible Creator, who art truly to be worshipped.
Father of my Lord, I bless Thee,
for that I have escaped, through Tliy gracious Son,
the threatenings of the wicked, and also the filth of the devil. ”

“ After this prayer the maidens bowed
to holy baptism ere the father came,
and were consecrated to the Saviour's chastity.
Then became Gallicanus likewise converted to God,
and straightway prayed with true faith
at the shrine of S. Peter which standeth in Rome.
The emperor welcomed him, and said to him with joy,
'When thou wentest to the battle thou didst sacrifice to the foul devils,
and since thou hast returned victorious, thou hast prayed to Christ,
and to His Apostles ”